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Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025

Permits, enforcement, and regulations for protected areas - Monitoring and enforcement - Offences

51: Other offences

You could also call this:

"Breaking rules in protected marine areas"

Illustration for Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025

You commit an offence if you have or get rid of fish, aquatic life, seaweed, or natural material that you know was taken from a protected area against the rules of section 17, 18, or 21. You also commit an offence if you do not follow a ranger's order or provide information they ask for, or if you pretend to be a ranger or stop them from doing their job. If you commit one of these offences, you could go to prison for up to 3 months, or get a fine of up to $100,000, or both.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS882849.

Topics:
Environment and resources > ConservationCrime and justice > Police and safety
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50: Offence to knowingly undertake prohibited activity within protected area, or

"Breaking rules in protected marine areas is against the law"

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52: Prosecution and defence for strict liability offences, or

"What happens if you're accused of breaking a marine protection rule without meaning to"

Part 3Permits, enforcement, and regulations for protected areas
Monitoring and enforcement: Offences

51Other offences

  1. A person commits an offence if the person is in possession of, or disposes of, any fish, aquatic life, seaweed, or natural material that the person knows was removed from a protected area in contravention of section 17, 18, or 21.

  2. A person commits an offence if the person, knowingly and without reasonable excuse,—

  3. fails to comply with an order or a requirement of a ranger issued under section 45, 46, or 47; or
    1. refuses to provide a ranger with information requested under section 46; or
      1. pretends to be a ranger, by their words, conduct, or demeanour, in circumstances likely to lead another person to believe that the person is a ranger; or
        1. obstructs or threatens a ranger acting in the course of duty.

          1. A person who commits an offence referred to in subsection (1) or (2) is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months, or to a fine not exceeding $100,000, or both.